Poverty in Chicago II

       In Chicago also resides the issues of homeless shelters and rehabilitation for chronic drug and alcohol abusers. Both are clearly very ineffective and provide very little real aid to those who need it. As stated in the previous post, Chicago is the third highest ranking city for drug overdose in the nation. There are very rehabilitation programs and most only last 28 days. This results in individuals returning to drug use as stated by a homeless interviewee in the documentary "Poverty in Chicago". Shelters were compared to the same quality as prisons. Often, violent outbreaks among its temporary inhabitants occur as well as low quality care. Some shelters even have specific criteria that cannot be met by all homeless people. This includes age, sex or the requirement of some sort of religious commitment.
       Chicago does a poor job of taking care of those who are suffering in some form of poverty. Chicago politics keep those in poverty oppressed and encourages citizens to turn a blind eye to the poor. Society gives them labels that we may often throw around with unknowing prejudice such as "junkie", "alcoholic", "crazy". These terms are often used loosely without ever understanding how a homeless individual got to that point. Further understanding poverty is a necessity if we are to ever overcome it.

(Delvin as seen in "Chicago Poverty")

Poverty in Chicago I

  In my research for poverty in Chicago, I found a documentary regarding various aspects of Chicago poverty and direct interviews with homeless individuals in the city. The documentary is called "Poverty in Chicago" and can be found at http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/poverty-in-chicago/. I highly recommend taking 45 minutes to watch the video if any readers have the opportunity. Brian Schodorf, the director of the documentary, investigated several issues regarding poverty in Chicago and drew on major conclusion among several contributing to the phenomenon. Chicago is the third highest ranking city for drug overdose in the United States. Chicago slums and projects account for the entire states heroin and crack cocaine supply hot spots. Though drugs may be the primary reason those in poverty remain oppressed in poverty, Schodorf also accounts for other aspects including mental health issues, former convicts and even explores the race barrier between the middle class and those suffering in poverty.
       The movie reveals that low income housing areas in Chicago quickly became diluted with high crime rates and drug trafficking. As a result, poor values, circulating drugs, and lack of education create a vicious cycle almost completely indestructible in which those living in those areas cannot escape poverty. Children are taught to sell drugs and partake in a life of crime in order to survive since upward mobility is almost completely unattainable. The downward spiraling financial situations for those living in the slums create little or no motivation to work towards financial success through societies mainstream standards such as education and work. As a result, the south side of Chicago, which accounts for 60% of the city has a 40% homeless rate and countless others suffering far below the poverty line. The documentary also showed that Chicago police obviously know about the high rates of drug trafficking, often see it but do very little about it. A social worker in the video implies that as part of city politics, the allowance of drug trafficking can be used to nullify a group of people and ultimately keep them oppressed.
       The documentary continued to show how poverty in American society is highly frowned upon and Chicago has ultimately gotten significantly better at ignoring the poor instead of providing any form of aid. The poor in Chicago continue to suffer and as time progresses, statistically, they are actually getting poorer. However, it is up to the American people to better understand this problem and stop turning a blind eye to those suffering so we can someday combat poverty and homelessness in Chicago.

Poverty in Illinois

           Since before the decline in the American economy, Illinois has been suffering financially. The end of 2009 showed unemployment at 10.2% which the state has not seen since the 1930s. The increasing numbers in poverty also reveal stratification on a different levels. Statistics since 2008 reveal that there is an increased likelihood for poverty and homelessness for non-whites in Illinois (though the numbers ultimately reflect the nation as a whole). Black residents in Illinois suffered a massive 17.1% unemployment rate where as white residents were at 9.0%. unreported cases suspect that the gap between these two numbers is far greater. Similar numbers exist for younger workers. Approximately 16% of Illinois residents ages 20-24 are unemployed as opposed to 9% of workers older than 24. Also, a resident with an education level less than a high school diploma is 4 times less likely to be unemployed than a resident with a bachelors degree. The worsening economy has shown us that many of the biases that exist within the United States are far from being abolished, in fact, are growing worse as money is becoming more difficult to acquire. The statistics ultimately reveal that it is not only difficult to survive in the current U.S. economy but it is far more difficult to be any type of minority and survive financially.
          The current Illinois poverty line is as follows: 1 person household, $1,836 income per month, $6,680 and less than $11,000 for a family of 4. Since 2008, Illinois residents in extreme poverty has worsened. As of 2008, 1 out every 7 Illinois households has zero or negative net worth. As of March 2010, March 2010 than Illinois, in which 1 out of every 371 homes received a foreclosure filing. Also, the Illinoisans’ average debt from all sources is over $11,300. 680,000 Illinoisans lived in extreme poverty in 2008 on an annual income of less than half of the poverty line. These numbers continue to grow and can be expected to get much worse in the recent events of the debt ceiling being raised as well as the announcement that the United States is once again in a recession.

(Taylor High Rise, Chicago, IL)

References:
http://www.heartlandalliance.org/whatwedo/advocacy/reports/2010-report-on-illinois-poverty.html
http://www.egyptianaaa.org/eligibilityguidelines.htm

Poverty in Philadelphia

          In a recent project undertaken by myself and three other justice 371 students, we have found some shocking statistics regarding poverty in Philadelphia. The project called for several groups to study different major cities throughout the U.S. in regard to poverty and hunger levels and statistics. Our assigned city, Philadelphia, proved to be one of the most devastated cities with almost 25% of its population at or below the poverty line. Our group divided various topics regarding the city up for our presentation. Before presenting, we compiled and shared our information for our own benefit and for the sake of the project. My particular topic was hunger in Philadelphia.

          Amongst the various sub-problems caused by poverty in Philadelphia lies the growing issue of hunger.  In 2009, 316,000 Philadelphia residents received help from a food pantry or hunger assistance organization. This was a 41% increase since 2008. The year 2010 saw a 62% increase in requests for food assistance from various social aid organizations and food pantries.  Though Philadelphia saw a 45% increase in the budget for emergency food rations, approximately 35% of the food demands went unmet. Since last year, Philadelphia has been projected to see a decrease in resources for food supplies and an increase in requests for food assistance. As of this year, 448,000 Philadelphia residents collect food stamps from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to provide for themselves and or their families. The National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program for Children, WIC (the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) are all federally funded programs implemented to combat hunger in Philadelphia and other major cities where high levels of poverty and hunger exist. Philadelphia also has approximately 700 soup kitchens though more may be needed to decrease the city’s high levels of hunger.

References:
http://www.hungercoalition.org/snap-campaign
http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/documents/hungerhomelessnessreport_121208.pdf

Visiting the Peace of Mind Exhibit

 

       Today I was given the opportunity to view the Peace of Mind Exhibit at Northeastern's Student Union. The exhibit itself was a series of portraits and text lining the walls with different perspectives of what peace is. The individuals in the portraits shared there views on peace which ranged from almost tangible views to a variety of strong ideological views. They covered peace from a personal perspective to what peace may be at a global level. Various perspectives described peace at a spiritual level whereas others did so on a political level. However, there was on common factor that every single view of peace covered: lack of conflict. Each individual described peace as being free of some sort of conflict.

       The Peace of Mind Exhibit brought forth new perspectives on the sort of mentality needed to combat hunger, poverty and injustice both here in the United States and around the globe. Ultimately, we as a people need to eliminate conflict amongst ourselves and with that will come a sense of selflessness that will contribute to the greater good of mankind. By overcoming our conflicts caused by selfishness, we can learn to help each other in order to ensure justice and equality for all.

31 Million U.S. Kids Live in Poverty Today As Racial Inequality Deepens

http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/08/31_million_us_kids_live_in_poverty_today_as_racial_inequality_deepens.html

       Currently, in the United States, approximately one out of every five children are living in poverty. As this is a national average, statistically, these numbers tend to grow far worse based on race. Reports show that poverty among children grows within the Latino community and shows the worst poverty levels in the Black American community.

Understanding the Impact of Poverty

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-best-life/2011/08/24/understanding-the-impact-of-poverty

(Though this image does not directly relate to the article, I did find it appropriate in addressing the recession causing poverty throughout the nation)

Currently one in seven Americans is collecting food stamps giving an estimated total of about 45 million across the nation. 25 million are suffering from unemployment though, this is a projected number so it is safe to assume that the number of unemployed Americans is much higher. With the debt ceiling having been recently increases business continues to threaten the middle and lower classes. Part time jobs are growing far more common than full time jobs if one can even find work in today's economy. Government agencies project potential pay cuts, retirement and social security are both being severely damaged or projected to suffer major cuts in the coming years and the cost of living is more difficult to meet when middle and lower class wages simply do not provide enough.

Poverty Defined

       Poverty can be defined as extreme insufficient funds which ultimately hinder one's ability to survive by the standards of a distributive justice style society. In such a society, goods are exchanged according to an individual's or group's social value. In many cases a form of currency in coin or paper form representative of high value material (typically gold) is used for such exchanges. In this case one's social value can be defined as how much income they can generate in a given amount of time. Failure to generate a particular income in a given amount of time in respect to the region in which that individual lives and according to cost of living results in poverty. This particular amount of income is defined as the poverty line. The poverty line is an amount of money an individual needs to meet or exceed in order to acquire basic necessities for survival in a distributive society such as food, clothing and shelter.
       The current legal definition of poverty is already copesetic, however, the definition itself is often skewed and manipulation by politics in order to change statistical data regarding it. The current defintion of poverty is the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. in politics, the poverty line can be adjusted as well as statistics regarding poverty in that region may be falsely altered to change what the defintion of poverty in that region is. I don't believe its the definition of poverty that needs to be adjusted, but the politicians who adjust it. Poverty is typically criminalized and frowned upon in the U.S. and as a result, the blatently obvious issues are swept aside. Ultimately, politicians as well as citizens need to confront poverty and better understand it if we, as a nation, are to ever overcome it.

References:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poverty